The traditional London Chess Conference moves online, being rebranded as "ChessTech Conference 2020". It will be held from December 5-6, in parallel with the FIDE Congress. The FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovic will be one of the main speakers. 

Over the past seven years, the London Chess Conference has grown in importance, establishing itself as a reference in chess and education, and the world’s premier chess-related conference overall. With a particular focus on topics like chess in school programs and chess and female empowerment, the event brings together specialists from all over the world, stimulating the exchange of ideas and experiences. 

Since its inception in 2013, this conference has been held alongside the London ChessClassic, being initially run by Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC), and in the last few years, by the company ChessPlus. 

Unfortunately, this year’s edition of the London Chess Classic has been canceled due to the pandemic (it will be back in the summer of 2021), so ChessPlus has moved the whole event online, rebranding it as ChessTech Conference 2020. Accordingly, the event will also see its focus shifting to “chess and technology”, while still maintaining the education connection. 

No longer under the wing of a world-class tournament, the conference will be this time embedded in a different context, taking place in parallel with the first online edition of the annual FIDE Congress. Delegates, Council, and commission members are encouraged to follow the conference, while Arkady Dvorkovich has been confirmed as one of the main speakers. FIDE has also contributed to the budget through a continental ECU grant, while early commercial sponsors are Tornelo.com and Chess.com. If you are a chess merchant and you want to support this initiative, you can check your options and packages on this document. 

“We are inviting industry leaders, pioneers, and startups alike. We are expecting 400+ attendees, mostly decision-makers, technologists and multipliers, and 25+ businesses to be present. In 30+ sessions of different formats, the conference will reflect on the fast developments since the start of the pandemic and offer glimpses of what we can expect in the near future,” explain the organizers. 

A detailed program has been announced on a new website with its usual mix of keynote speeches, workshops, debates, and interviews, which will bring together the world’s leading experts in chess and technology. These are some of the main topics: 

Playing Platforms
Anti-Cheating
Chess Streaming
Chess Databases
Tournament Trackers
Tournament Administration
Classroom Software
Online Training Academies
Training Utilities
Study Systems
Chess Engines

“The conference will use a mix of platforms to boost learning, interaction, and networking”, reads the website. “Practitioners, decision-makers, and researchers from around the globe will share their knowledge. Platforms and producers will exhibit their latest developments.”

The conference is free to attend, and registration is already other through this link. People representing companies are expected to pay for a professional ticket (£50) or to sponsor the event. This ticket gives access to some extra benefits.

Dates: December 5-6
Conference Director: John Foley
Contact: info@chessconference.org
Website: www.chessconference.org